Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I agree that Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, from which God had commanded them not to eat. However, in my opinion, it was their act of eating (that is, disobeying God's command) that constituted the sin, rather than the nature of the tree, or any effect of the fruit itself.

To me, this is indicated by the verse cited in the question (Genesis 3:22), in which God Himself said that, once Adam and Eve had eaten of the tree, they had become like God in knowing good and evil. To know what is good and what is evil (as God said that He Himself does, without compromising His holiness) is not the same as choosing and practicing evil (as Adam and Eve did through their disobedience to God's command).

I believe that, when we are eternally glorified in God's presence, we will be (as the apostle John said) like Christ (1 John 3:2). We will have free will and know the difference between good and evil (as Christ does), but, like Him, we will never choose evil over good, because our earthly sin nature will have been removed, and our faith will be given its complete and ultimate expression (which I don't think we can even conceive of in this life) in eternal joy, praise, obedience, and service to God.

July 31 2016 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

At his second coming, Jesus Christ will destroy, vanquish and annihilate all evil, wickedness, corruption and decay from the face of the earth. Jesus will destroy this present earth by fire as explained in 2 Peter 3:10:

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."

Jesus will then renew the earth to match what God originally created, which was perfection. There will be some changes: 1) there will no longer be any oceans or seas on the new earth, 2) there will no longer be any sun, moon or stars for light [see Revelation 21 & 22]. Scientists estimate that 99% of all the animals that ever existed are now extinct, but these animals will all return on the new earth to restore God's original creation.

Jesus’ first coming delivered us [set us free] from the penalty of sin and is setting us free from the power of sin, by the presence and work of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside every Christian. At Jesus second coming we will receive our glorious new eternal bodies, like Jesus own body, like the bodies of the angels, and we will be delivered from the presence of sin. Jesus will also destroy Satan and all his demons and will vanquish and annihilate them with eternal punishment in hell separated forever from the presence of God [see Revelation 19 & 20].

On the new earth where we will dwell for eternity, we will not even experience a single thought of "evil" in our eternal existence. Why, because God will be dwelling with us on this new earth. God knows the thoughts of all his creation and because of his holiness, He will not tolerate being in the presence of any form of evil, wickedness, corruption or decay. We will know and experience only the good that God intended at his original creation. Hallelujah!

January 16 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report